Message Number: SG5690 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: Mohr
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2003 04:26:44 -0500
To: FerretHealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: when to spay?
Message-Id: <5.1.1.6.0.20030807042125.01ee4c68@pop.central.cox.net>
I am encountering a problem I've never had before, since all my previous
female ferrets were early spays. My baby Leeloo was acquired from a
private breeder, hence she isn't spayed. Both Debbie Scott and I want to
prevent the problems possibly associated with early spays in any way we can.
My question now is, when do I spay her? I know ferrets reach maturity at
six months. Do I wait until she shows the very first signs of going into
heat -- regularly check and then spay immediately when her vulva first
begins to swell? Or is it unsafe to wait that long? If so, when do I do
it? I don't want to wait until she begins to go into heat if it will
damage her health, but on the other hand I want to wait as long as possible
so she gets the maximum health benefits from growing to adulthood unspayed.
I would welcome opinions! :-)
Thanks.
-Natasha
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